HOA BoD Spend Wisely

A temporary agreement by the US Government is just that temporary, but nothing fixes the problem.  Our government has to reduce spending, raise interest rates, and lower its investing.  Which means the state will not get money they have become dependant upon.  This puts states and cities at risk of defaulting and higher taxes.  City and state building contracts would be greatly reduced causing businesses to lay off employees or close their doors all together.  This means more bank defaults, bankruptcies, unemployed, mortgage defaults, higher taxes, new tax laws, etc.

Communities Declined by FHA for "First Right of Refusal" Clause.

If your community is having to reapply for FHA approval and the documents contain a "First Right of Refusal" clause don't be surprised if your application is declined.  But, all is not lost.  Thanks to the HOA Leader (first link in the right hand column) there is something you can do.  To find out more go to the site using the link as previously stated then go to the Forums to find out what you need to do. 

Suntree BoD Use Your Heads!!

In Suntree, for some unknown reason they have been running the sprinklers in the yards 4 times a day.  We did not plant grass seeds or anything else to justify watering the entire community 4 times a day.  Unless a professional guaranteed that watering 4 times a day would fix the problem.  Then do not conduct costly experiments on the entire community.  You use one or two zones as your test zones to prevent incurring huge expenses!  Use a little common sense, please.  Don't make it cost more than it has too or come to terms that our summer lawns will always look like crap.

Directors and Board Members Job Descriptions

Know what your signing up for when you run for your HOA BoD or if you just want to know how the board functions.  The HOA Leaders have a great book for download that details out each director and board members job description.  Yes, it is a job and one each homeowner expects you to do.

Go to www.blogspot.arizonahoaownersvoice.com then click on the HOA Leader link on the top right of the screen.

Energy Usage by Item **Update**

Previously I posted a spreadsheet showing how much it in electricity it costs to operate certain items.  The rates used to calculate the costs is based upon the rate per KWH at the time of the post.  SRP changes it's rates four times a year.   The rates increase in March, May, June, Sept., and December with the highest rate charged during months July, August, & Sept.   

Minding the Store

Who is minding Suntree vendors, it's not the management company who drives by once a week & it's not the board members who are entrusted by all the owners to do exactly that, so who is it?  Nobody! 

There is nothing to value about this board

For those of us who live in Suntree, we can say the grass is always greener on the other side.  Because the grass is always greener on any side of this community. 

New HOA Legislation in Arizona

For some of us this could be considered a win.  Effective July 19, 2011, for both Condos and planned communities owners may tape record or video tape open portions of board meetings.   Hopefully, this will cause everyone to act like rational adults.  You-Tube will be the least of peoples worries.  It can be used as evidence against or for anyone in attendance.

Does a burnt out light bulb use electrcity.

Does a light use electricity when the bulb is burnt out and the switch is left on?  No, it does not.  Although the electricity is flowing to the bulb, one would think that it is using electricity.  But, it is not.  Even though the switch is turned on and electricity is available for use, because it isn't actually used we aren't charged for it.  I wouldn't be so worried about taking the burnt bulbs out of the socket to save energy.  Actually your better leaving it in until you change the bulb out.  Not having a bulb in the socket and turning on the power could do more damage than good. 

If we don't actually use the electricity in a functioning item we do not get charged for it.

Hampton Bay Ceiling Fan

I tested our living room ceiling fan for 457 hours or 19 days.  The total cost to run the fan continuously for 457 hours running on high is $2.15 and used 23.22 KWH.  Here's the break down:

It uses 52.9 KW on high, total KWH used 23.22, total cost $2.15, Hourly cost $0.00, Daily Cost 11 cents, Weekly Cost 78 cents, Monthly Cost $3.34, Yearly Cost is $40.73. 

Provided your ceiling fan is reversible and will draw warm air up in the summer which blows cool air down.  It keeps cool air circulating in your home preventing the A/C from kicking on as often.  In the winter reversing it blows warm air down and draws cool air up causing warm air to circulate keeping the heater from kicking on as often.  Somewhere along the line people forgot the benefits of ceiling fans.  If you have them use them they are your friends.  They are cheap to run even if they are 10 or 15 years old.  If you don't use them your not circulating the air in your house.  You will end up with some rooms being hotter than others.  Plus depending on where your thermostat is you could end up with your A/C running more often because the wall temp. will increase quicker. 

The temp. your thermostat is set at isn't the actual air temp.  The air temp is actually warmer or cooler than the thermostat says because it's located on the wall.  Meaning it is measuring the temp of the wall to determine the air temp.  The actual room air temp is 1 to 2 degrees hotter or cooler if in the winter than what the thermostat says the temp is.

If a light bulb is burnt out does it use electricity when turned on?  It sounds like a dumb question, I know.  But, I still would like to what everyone thinks and why you think it.